Automatic guide abjuster



May 30, 1933.

W. H. CATTERALL AUTOMATIC GUIDE ADJUSTER Filed March 22, 1930 PatentedMay 39, 1933 unites srarss PATENT Fries WILLIAM n. CATT'ERALL, orLEBANON, PENNSYLVANIALASSIGNTOR T BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC GUIDE ADJUSTER Application filed March 22,1930. scrial No. 437,951;

My invention relates to rolling mill. apparatus and more particularly tothat class of rolling .mills known as continuous, 1n which plurality ofstands of rolls are em- I. ployed for the successive reduction of aheated bar cf metal. v j

In the continuous rolling of a bar in a mill of this type a heatedbillet is first fed from the furnace and then reduced by successivestages by feeding the bar throughgraduated roll passes of the severalstands of rolls each successive pass serving to reduce its crosssectional area and to extend and elon gate the bar, the rolling processfrom start 3.1 to finish being continuous. As a result, the method ofrolling is greatly facilitated and the bar is not given a chance tocool, and a reheating thereof is not necessary. 7

Conductors and guides lead the bar from LL one roll pass to the next thebar being usually rotated about 90 between each pass.

The bar is usually adapted to pass loosely through all of the entry anddelivery guides with the exception of the entry guide for the $.2finishing roll pass which must be made adjustable to close as soonas theforward end of the bar enters the guide in order that the bar will beturned exactly 90 from the pre ceding roll pass to enter the finishingroll 1.1.23 pass in the proper position. If for any reason the guide isnot closed or properly adjusted the bar when it issues from thefinishing roll pass will be deformed or have fins along the oppositeedges and will have to be scrapped.

1' J5 Heretofore it has been the practice to employ a pair ofcooperating guide plates having opposed longitudinal recesses in theiradjacent-faces adapted to constitute a guiding aperture for the rod orbar and to adjust one .4 of the guide plates for the bar just before itenters the finishing roll pass by means of an adjustable screw adaptedto bear against a movable guide plate and controlled manually by anoperator by means of a rod and lever connection. This requires constantattention by theoperator in order that the guide maybe opened and closedat the proper time. As the bar when it reaches the finishing roll passwill be traveling at considerable speed,

sometimes as great as several feet per second guides and a curvedrepeater trough connectit very often happens that the operator will notac; quick enoughtolclose the guide in time before the endofthe bar.enters the finishing roll pass and several feet of the bar may have beenrolled before the guide 5 is finally closed in which case all of saidend which has passed throughthe finishing roll pass before the guide isclosed, will have fins formed thereon and will have tobe cut off anddiscardech It also sometimes occurs that the operator does not opentheguide properly or wide enough for the forward end of the bar to enterat the desired time,

in which case a cobble may be formed or injury to the mill may be theresult.

Que of the objects of my invention is to automatically adjust a movableguide plate used to direct albar and hold it accurately in properposition to present the same to the circumferential grooves or othershaped passes of the rolls.

. Another object of my invention relates to automatically controllingthe opening and closing of the guide by means which is controlled thebar being rolled, thereby eliminating manual labor.

A further object of my invention-relates to electrical means for openinga guide and independent means 7 for closing the guide which iscontrolled by the bar being rolled.

Having thus givena general description of my invention, I will now, inorder to make the same more clear, refer to the annexed mg the same andillustrating the application of my invention applied thereto; Fig.2 is adiagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuits and apparatusinvolved;

3 is an enlarged detail showing a ver ticaltransverse section throughtheguides, casing and rest bar therefonthe section be ing taken on thelineof the adjusting screw ence on the drawing the numerals 1 and 2 indicatethe last two stands of rolls of a continuous rod or bar mill each havinga set of rolls 3 andf4 of the twohigh type. The set of rolls 3"havingareducing pass 5vformed therein while the setof rolls 4 have a finishingroll pass formed therein as at 6.

' Rest bars 7 connect the side of the roll housings of each stand ofrolls together. The entering and delivery guides 8 and 9 for thereducing pass 5 are mounted on the rest bars 7 at either side of therolls. The entering guide for the finishing pass 6 is mounted in ahollow rectangular guide box 10 secured to a rest bar 7 for the stand ofrolls 2, comprising stationary and movable guide blocks 11 and 12 eachhaving a longitudinally grooved inner face 13 and 14 adapted to form aguiding aperture for'the rod .or bar. The stationary guide block .11 issecured within the hollow guide box .10 by means of one or more setbolts 15 while themovable guide block 12'is adapted to be movedlaterally toward the stationary guide block by means ofa pivoted lever16 and screw 17 which is threaded ception of a squared end 19 of a shaft20 which extends outwardly through the roll housing of the finishingroll stand 2, and journaled in a bearing 21. A lever 22 is mounted onthe intermediate portion of the shaft 20 having an adjustable weight 23mounted thereon, while the outer end of the shaft has a sheave 24 keyedthereto to which is attached as at 25 one end of a flexible strand 26while 3 ing core 27 of a solenoid 28. The solenoid 28 the opposite endis attached toa reciprocatwith its connection to the sheave 24 isadapted to rock or rotate the shaft 20 and screw 17 in one directiona-partial revolution to open the guide, while the weight 23 on lever 22is I adapted to rotate'the shaft a partial revolution in the reversedirection.

in one direction until it reaches a stop 30, instead of a weight asillustrated in Fig. 1.

For illustration I have indicated in Fig. 2

the rotation of the shaft 20 by the solenoid and spring in eitherdirection'as 90, but this amount of rotation may be varied by ad ustmgthe parts if desired.

Troughs 31 and 32 are located before the entering guides for each rollpass each having a flag adapted to extend downwardly therein in aninclined direction as at 33 and 34. Short shafts 35 and 36 are journaledin bearings 37 and 38 formed on the side of the troughs and attached tothe flags. The shafts each having a contact arm 39 and 40 mounted ontheir outer ends each adapted to form a switch and make contact with apair of contacts 41 and 42, 43 and 44 respectively.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the wiring or circuit connections. for thedifferent parts as they appear in their normal positions in which 45indicates a generator or source of power having a circuit connection 46extending to the solenoid 28 and fromthe solenoid tothe'contact 41 byaconnection 47, other circuit connections extend between contacts 42 and44 as at 48 and between generator 45 and contact 43 as at 49. Thecontact arms 39 and 40 are raised into dotted position indicated, by therod or bar engaging the flags as it passes through the trough-s in thedirection of the arrows and returnedto their norinal posit ons asindicated in full lines by .means of the springstSO and 51, or ifdesired made circular 'to form a round'rod or bar. when it issues fromthepassjas the finished product as at 53.

IA curved repeater trough 54 extends between the delivery guide 9 andthe trough 32 and'zis adapted to receive the bar after it. issues fronipass 5 and guide it in a curved direction to thefinishing pass 6. Thetop of the repeater trough 54- isopen to allow the rod or bar to beraised out of the repeater trough and to extend over a table 55 in casethe rod is delivered from the reducingroll pass 5 faster than it istaken up by the finishing roll pass 6 thereby producing a looporoverfeed as indicated by dotted lines in The operation of my device isas follows: In Figs. 1 and 2 the flags 33 and 34 are arranged'in a twostage contact which will open or close the circuit to the solenoid,

causing the entering guide for the finishing roll pass to be opened. bythe solenoid and closed by a spring or weight.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the contacts 41. and 42 are normally open,when the forward end of the oncoming bar or rod enters the trough 31 itengages the flag 33 and swings the arm 39'into engagement'with contacts41 and 42 thereby closing the circuit through the solenoid 28, the core27 of which will be energized and drawn downward thereby rotating thesheave 24, shaft 20 and screw 17 a partial revolutionin a counterclockwise direction whereby the pressure of the screw 17 on the pivotedlever 16 will be released allowing the guideplate 12 a limited lateralmovement when en aged by the forward end of the bar or rod. After thebar or rod passes through the trough 31 it enters the entering guide 8,then into the reducing pass 5, thence into delivery guide 9, which hasan inclined groove formed therein adapted to give the bar a turn as itpasses through the curved repeater 54 and enters the trough 321 whereit'engages flag 34, swinging the contact arm 40 out of engagement withthe N contacts t3and 44c and opening'the' circuit deenergizing the core27 of the solenoid 28, this allows the adjustable weight 23 on arm 22 orspring 29 to rotate the shaft 20 and screw '17 in a clockwise directionthereby laterally advancing the movable guide plate 12 toward the fixedguide plate 11 by the increased pressure of the end of the screw 17 onthe pivoted arm 16 and closing the guide in such a manner that the baror rod will enter the finishingpass Gin the proper alignment, the barhaving been turned substantially 90 after leaving pass 5. The weight 23or spring 29 on arm 22 may be so adjusted as to allow time enough forthe end of the oncoming bar to pass properly between the guide plates 11and 12 before the guide is closed. The rod or bar is then fed throughthe finishing roll pass 6 and the then finished PIOClLlCL- is conveyedto a cooling bed to cool.

After the rear end of the bar 52 passes the flag 33 the contact arm 39will return to its normal position out of engagement with the contactsll and 42. As the bar continues to advance and the rear end passes theflag 34 the contact arm will return to its normal position and engagethe contacts 43 and 44.

The operation described above will then be repeated when the forward endof the next bar being rolled enters the trough 31.

Although I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the flag 33 as mounted toextend into the trough 31 so that the bar will engage the flag before itenters the roll. pass 5 it will be readily understood that this flag maybe placed after the pass on the other side of. the rolls or in thecurved repeater 54 or any place along the line of travel of-the bar.

The space between the l must not however be greater than the length ofthe bar being rolled and the forward end of the bar must engage the 34;and swing the contact arm 40 out of engagement with the contacts 43 anda l, to open the circuitat this point before the rear GHQ of the barpasses flag 33 thereby swinging arm 39 out of en gagement with contactsall and otherwise if the rear end of the bar passes the flag33 first andthe circuit is opened at this point before the forward end of the barengages the flag 34, the guide-for the finishing pass will be closedbefore the proper time.

In my invention the operation of my device is entirely automati of thebar on its way to enter the roll passes alternately closing and openingan electric circuit at the proper instant, or the bar itself may engagetwo or more contact points thereby completing a circuit and thusbecoming an electrical conductor for a part of the circuit. V

Although I have described and illustrated my invention inconsiderable'detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact andspecific details thereof as shown and described, but may use suchmodifications in, substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, as areembraced within the scope of my invention, or as point ed out in theclaims. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a guide for rolling mills, comprisinga pair of r0lls,va pass forncd in'thc rolls forthe reduction of a bar, housings for-the rolls, restbars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to oneoftherest bars, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate each having agrooved inner face mounted in the hide box a screw adapted I n I 7 I tobe automatically rotated and controlled b* the barbeinv rolled for o)enin and clos- 1 ing the guide, electrically operated means for isrotating the screw in one direction and means independent of theelectrically operated means for rotating the screw in the reversedirection. 1

2. Ina guidefor rolling mills, comprising .a pair of rolls, a passformed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to oneof rest bars,

a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate each having a groovedinner face mounted injthe guide box, a screw threaded into the sideof-the gulde box, shaft connected to the screw, electrically operatedmeans controlled by the bar being rolled adapted to rotate the shaft andscrew when opening the guide,and means attached to the shaft andindependent of the electrical means for rotating the shaft and screw inthe reverse direction to that of the electrically operated means forclosing the motion of the operating mechanism is to be controlled by *aflag or flags or the like placed in the path shaft and screw whenopening the guide and means attached to the shaft and independent of theelectrically operated means for rotating the shaft and screw in thereverse direction to close the guide.

4. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls, apassformed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to oneof the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate eachhaving a grooved inner face mounted in the guide box, a screw threadedinto the side of the guide box, a shaft slidably secured to the screwand rotatable therewith, a sheave mounted on the shaft, a solenoidhaving a reciprocating core, a flexible connection between the sheaveand the core of the solenoid, a pair of spaced flags adapted to beengaged by the bar being rolled, acontact arm-attached to each flag andmovable with the flags, a pair of c011- tacts adapted to be engaged byeach contact arm when the circuit is closed to energize the core of thesolenoid and rotate the shaft and screw when opening the guide,'meansfor normally holding one pair of contacts open and the other pair ofcontacts closed, and means attached to the shaft and independent of theelectrically operated means for rotating the shaft and screw in thereverse direction to close the guide. I

5. In a guide for rolling mills, a guide box, a fixed guide plate and amovable guide plate mounted therein, a lever pivoted to the guide boxand contacting with the movable guide plate, a rotatably mountedadjusting member engaging the pivoted lever, electrically operated meansfor automatically rotating the adjusting member in one direction to openthe guide, and means independent of the electrically operating means forclosing the guide.

6. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a guide box, a fixed guideplate and a movable guide plate mounted therein, means for feeding a barto be rolled between the guide plates, a screw threaded into the guidebox adapted to control the adjustment of the movable guide plate, anelectrical circuit, switches in spaced relation to each other in thecircuit each adaptedto be closed or opened by the passage of the bar, asolenoid in the electrical circuit for rotating the screw in onedirection, and independent means for rotating the screw inithe reversedirection.

7. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls, a passformed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,rest bars connecting the housings together, a guide box secured to oneof the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mountedwithin the guide box, a

the circuit is closed to rotate the shaft and screw in one direction toallow the guide to open and a weighted lever mounted on the shaft forrotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction to close theguide.

. 8. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls, a passformed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,rest bars connecting the housings together, a

guide box secured to one of the rest bars, a'

fixed guide plate and a movable guide plate mounted within the guidebox, a lover pivoted 4.

LO the gu debox and engagmg the movable guide plate, a screw threadedinto the guide box adapted to engage the pivoted lever and control theadjustment of the movable guide plate, a rectangular socket formed inthe screw, a shaft having a squared end slidably engaging the socket androtatable with the screw, a sheave mounted on the shaft, an electricalcircuit, switches in spaced relation to each other in the circuit eacharranged to close or open by the passage of the bar, a solenoid in theelectrical circuit, a reciprocating 'core for the solenoid having aflexible connection between the core and the sheave adapted when thecircuit is closed to rotate the shaft and screw in one direction toallow the guide to open, and a weighted lever mounted on the shaft forrotating the shaft and screw in the reverse direction thereby exertingpressure against the pivoted lever and movable guide plate to close theguide.

9. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a fixed guide plate andamovable guide plate,

' means for feeding a bar between guide plates,

a trough for conducting the bar to the guide, an electric circuit, apair of spaced switches in series in the electric circuit, a flag foreach switch extending into the trough across the path of the feed barand adapted to control the opening and closing of the switch-es, meansfor allowing the guide to open when the circuitis closed, andindependent means for closing the guide when the circuit is open.

bar, troughs and guides for conducting the bar to the roll passes andgiving thebar a partial axial rotation, a pair of spaced flags normallyarranged across the path oi the traveling bar being reduced and adaptedto swing out of the path when engaged by the bar, anentering guide'forone of the roll passes, a switch connected to each flag and movabletherewith, an electrical circuit for connecting the switches, means fornormally holding one of the switches open, means for holding the otherswitch closed, and means for controlling the opening and closing of theguide by the closing and opening of the switches. i

11. In a guide for rolling mills, a pair of cooperating guide plates,means for feeding a bar between the guide plates, anelectric circuit, apair of switches in the circuit, means for normally holding the firstswitch open and the second switch closed, a flag attached to each switcharrangedin the path of the traveling bar and movable therewith, meanswhen the forward end of the traveling rod engages the flag attached tothe first switch. for closing the circuit and" allowing the guide toopen, and means when the forward end of the traveling rod engages theflag attached to the second switch for opening the circuit and closingthe guide.

12. In a guide for rol ing mills, a pair of rolls, a pass formed in therolls for the reduction of a bar, a fixed guide box, a stationary guideplate and a laterally adjustable guide plate movably mounted within thefixed guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plateagainst longitudinal movement, eleitrically operated means in spacedrelation with the guide for laterally adjusting the movable guide platein one direction to open the guide before the bar on ters the saidguide, and means independent of the electrically operated means forlaterally adjusting the movable guide in the reverse direction to closethe guide before the bar being rolled enters the roll pass.

13. in a guide for rollin mills, a fixed guide box, a stationaryguideplate and a laterally adjustable guide plate movably mounted withinthe fixed guide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plateagainst longitudinal movement, a rotatably mounted adjusting member,electrically operated means for rotating the adjusting member for ylaterally adjusting the movable guide plate in one direction to open theguide, and resilient means for laterally adjusting the mov able guideplate to close the guide.

14, In a guide for rolling mills, a fixed u guide box, a stationaryguide plate and a laterally adjustable guide plate movably mountprovidedwith a ed within the fixed guide box, means for holding the laterallymovable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a lever pivoted tothe fixed guide box and contacting with the move able guideplate, arotatably mounted adjus ing member for engaging the lever, electricallyoperated means for rotating the adjusting member in one direction toopen the guide,

and resilient means for rotating the adjusting member inthe oppositedirection to close theguiden a V r ,15; In a guide for rolling mills,afixed guide box, guide plates mounted thereineach grooved inner faceadapted to form a guiding aperture for the bar, an electrically operatedrotating means adapted to rotate in one direction to open the guide,

and means independent of theelectrically op erating means adapted torotate the rotating means in the reverse direction for closing theguide. i a

16. In a guide for rolling mills, a stationary guide box, a fixed guideplate and a movable guide plate mounted therein, a lever pivoted to theguide box and contacting with the movable guideplate, a rotatablymounted adjusting screw engaging the pivoted lever, electricallyoperated means for" rotating the adjusting screw in one direction toopen the guide, and a weighted lever means for rotating the screw in theopposite direction for closing the guide. 17. In a guide for rollinmills, a stationary guide box, a fixed guide plate and a laterallymovable guide plate mounted therein, means for holding the laterallymovable guide plate against longitudinal movement, a lever pivoted tothe guide box, an adjusting screw threaded into the uide box andengaging the lever, a socket formed in the adjusting screw, a shaftslidably keyed to the adjusting screw, electrically operated means forrotating the shaft and adjusting screw in one direction, andmechanicalmeans for rotating the shaft and adjusting the screw in thereverse direction.

18. In a guide for rolling mills, a stationary guide box, a fixed guideplate and a laterally movable guide plate mounted therein, means forholding the laterally movable guide plate against longitudinal movement,a lever pivoted to the guide box, an adjusting screw threaded into theguide box and engaging the lever, a rectangular socket formed in the adjusting screw, a shaft having squared end the reduction of a bar,housings for the rolls,

rest bars for connecting the housings together, a stationary guide boxsecured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a laterallymovable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in theguide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate againstlongitudinal movement, alever pivoted to the guide box and contactingwith the movable guide plate, a rotatably mounted adjusting member forengaging the lever, electrically operated means controlled by the barbemg rolled for automatically rotating the adj usting member in onedirection to open the guide, and means independent of the electricallyoperating means for closing the guide. i

20. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rolls providedwith a pass for j the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls,

rest bars for connecting the housings together, a stationary guide boxsecured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a laterallymovable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in theguide box,

having a squared end slidably engaging the socket, a sheave mounted onthe shaft, electrically operated meanscontrolled by the passage of thebar being rolled for automatically rotating the shaft in one direction,and means independent of the electrically operating means for rotatingthe shaft in the reverse direction.

21. In a guide for rolling mills, eomprising a pair of rolls providedwith a pass for the reduction of a bar, housings for the rolls, restbars for connecting the housings together, a stationary guide boxsecured to one of the rest bars, a fixed guide plate and a laterallymovable guide plate each having a grooved inner face mounted in theguide box, means for holding the laterally movable guide plate againstlongitudinal movement, a lever pivoted to the guide box and contactingwith the movable guide plate, an adjusting screw threaded into thestationary guide box and engaging the lever, a shaft having its endslidably keyed to the adjusting screw, an electric circuit provided withswitches in series adapted to be opened and closed by the passage of thebar, a solenoid in the circuit controlled by the switches, a connectionwith the shaft adapted to rotate the shaft in one direcion to open theguide, and a weighted lever mounted on the shaft adapted to rotate theshaft in the reverse direction.

22. In a guide for rolling mills, comprising a pair of rollsprovidedwith a pass for the opening the guide, and resilient means for closingthe guide.

23. In a guide for rolling mills comprising a pair of rolls, a passformed in the rolls for the reduction of a bar, a guide mounted adj a-.cent to the roll pass, electrically operated means for opening the guidebefore the bar enters the said uide, and means independent of theelectrica ly operated means for automatically closing the guide beforethe forward end of the bar enters the roll pass.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

IVILLIAM H. CATTERALL.

